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Have you noticed lot to lot variation in drugs?
I'm on a clinical trial of a drug whose main side effect necessitates the use of loperamide (imodium). By the end of previous cycles, I've been unable to control this side effect, even with the maximum of 8 Imodium and 4 Lomotil per day. The same was true for this cycle until 2 days ago. But yesterday this issue suddenly improved, when I would have expected it to still be getting worse.
What's different? I started a different batch of prescription loperamide. I know it's a different batch at the pharmacy because the last time I tried to fill my 240 pill prescription, they didn't have that much and only gave me 60 pills. This time they gave me 240, so they must have gotten a new shipment. There aren't any lot numbers on what I have. The expiration dates on the bottles are the same, but I don't know if this is from the manufacturer or if the pharmacist slaps it on there.
Have you experienced anything like this? If it had occurred to me that that was even possible, I would have bought some Imodium over the counter. (The prescription stuff is cheaper, and I would have thought more reliable.)
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@val64 I bet you are thrilled to not have the side effects that require use of loperamide! That is a staple in my medicine cabinet at all times, sad to say.
The expiration dates are usually placed on a bottle by the manufacturer, if you have their bottle. If the pharmacist has bottled the medication into their own bottle, then the expiration date is part of the label entered by your pharmacist. In my experience, the label will include the manufacturer of the drug inside the bottle, and include a description [like: pink oblong tablet with 395 imprinted]. Compare your labels of past bottles and current bottles!
As far as the side effect, I am reading your post that the drug is what is causing the side effect. Right? And the side effect is simply not there this round. A couple of things come to mind. 1.) Not knowing how long you have been on this clinical trial drug, your body is finally accepting it and "playing nice". 2.) There has been a change in the strength of the clinical trial drug, without your knowledge, and your body is more accepting of that 3.) the clinical trial drug is from another manufactured that has a slightly different carrying agent for the drug being tested.
My suggestion is that you indeed track this difference so you can report it to the medical team you are working with.
Ginger
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4 ReactionsThe clinical trial drug is the same, and there's no way it's side effects have changed. What has changed is the new bottle of loperamide that I started 2 days ago. I still have to take lots of loperamide and lomotil, I just have to re-figure out how much. The labels that the pharmacist put on the two loperamide bottles are exactly the same. It is not the manufacturer's bottle or label. But the new loperamide has a much stronger effect, such that I can now control the problem with less than the maximum dose, whereas before even the maximum dose didn't"t control it.
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1 Reaction@val64 Ask your pharmacist, then, for their thoughts that you have shared here. I'd be curious what they might have to say. And, still keep those notes and clue your trial team in the next time you see them. They'll want to know, too!
Ginger
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2 Reactions@val64 I know how thorough you are in your inquiries. This is just too much of a coincidence so it's very possible that a change in lots (manufacturer?) of your prescription loperamide is responsible for this change.
Yes, please ask your pharmacist for any and all information that they can provide.
Let us know what you find out?
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